Customer Reviews

Agent Provocateur

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In this collection, editors Joseph Corre and Serena Rees attempt to put together a brief history of erotica, particularly subversive erotica. The diversity and quality of the illustrations make this book a nice find. The idea of the text is quite interesting--a historical and social survey of erotica--but still leaves something to be desired. The text is a little too light and doesn't seem particularly well researched.

This is a book that celebrates, exclusively, the female body. There are fetish themed shots, old time shots, and other historical erotic photos, all of which have inspired or affected those involved with the lingerie shop in London in some way. While mostly eye candy, the accompanying text has its moments of insight. This is certainly a book that aims to entice any who are aroused by the female form; for those individuals, it is an enjoyable and arousing read.

Like the Agent Provocateur coffee table book on Exhibitionism, this is an equally provocative look at sex appeal as infinitely improved through the use of sexy, often trashy or kinky women's undergarments. One could almost use the famous National Geographic approach of not bothering to read the text, but just ogling the photographs and reading the captions. While there are few bare breasts in this collection, there is plenty of exposed flesh none-the-less. The bare breasts are mostly in the early section of the book and are famous nude paintings by Titian, Goya and Eugene Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People." There are samples of cheesecake and whiplash fetish including many of the most famous photos of Betty Page. There are French CanCan dancers from the mid-1800's as well as many if not all the most of the famous Hollywood Sirens. Strippers, belly dancers, they are all part of this eye candy buffet. The eight chapters included topics like "Femininity," "The Body," "Design and Construction," "Fashion," "Fantasy," "Striptease, "Sexuality," and of course, "Agent Provocateur." This is a very slick, chic, sometimes-brassy collection of articles and pictures to tease--mostly tease males, although some of the material will probably not be so limited audience-wise. The book is pretty much what the reader or voyeur would expect--lots of teasing and selling of Agent Provocateur lingerie and mystique

"Agent Provacateur" by authors Joseph Corre and Serena Rees celebrates the senuality and spirit of a woman. The pictures emphasize the curves and softness of the feminine form supporting centuries of how changes in society and politics have affected women and how they should look and act in a certain way in public and in private. The millenium woman no longer has to feel ashamed of who she is physically. "If you got it, flaunt it. If you don't have it, get it!"

The authors have done an excellent job in supporting their historical facts with pictures dating back to early times and pieces of erotic literature. Inside of the book is a letter detailing the lingerie the visitor has bought on her holiday. This book is by far, the most emphasized of sensuality and fashion.

Agent Provacateur is located in London's Soho distict. Opened in 1994, the shop is widely popular among celebrities, housewives, and businessmen.